River view
Photographer: Sue York
October 2024Pleasant Valley Preserve
8 mile river
Winter’s Embrace
Photographer: Kerrie Pensiero
January 2024
Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve
Winter hiking can get pretty drab if there’s not much snow. When I saw this snow on the tree stump, it looked like a heart. With a little help from me, I formed it a little better for this photo💕
Cinnamon Fern
Photographer: Birgit Musheno (Photo of Distinction)
May 2024Banningwood Preserve
Close up of cinnamon fern growing near Roaring Brook in the Banningwood Preserve
Barred owl pair
Photographer: Jaime Bochet
May 6, 2024Private Old Lyme Habitat
We’d had a single barred owl visiting the perimeter of our yard for several weeks, but then one morning we looked out and saw a mate with them. They relaxed on this sapling for several hours.
Inverted V
Photographer: Kristina White
December 2024Brockway Hawthorne
An eternal symbol seen throughout the world
Leaves
Photographer: Sue York
October 2024Pleasant Valley Preserve
River leaves
Cows at the farm
Photographer: Adam McEwen (Photo of Distinction)
May 2024Tiffany’s farm
Foggy day at the farm in a Spring morning in Lyme
Mt. Archer Woods – Tulip Tree Grove in Winter
Photographer: Steven Hoyt (Photo of Distinction)
February – 2024
Mt. Archer Woods Preserve
There are actually a couple of tulip tree groves in this group of preserves – one in Mt. Archer and the other bordering the Eno and Mt. Archer preserves. This photo was taken, I believe, on trail AW in the southwest section of the Mt. Archer preserve. I love the forest depth and textures that shine through on an otherwise drab day.
Amongst Giants
Photographer: Kristina White
March 2024
Pleasant Valley
Looking up makes one feel small but a part of something vast
Green door
Photographer: Kristina White
February 2024
Johnston Preserve
A door to another world
Downed Tree New Life
Photographer: Galo Sarmiento (Photo of Distinction)
3/16/2024Selden Creek Preserve
The number of downed trees at Selden Preserve make room for new life.
Early morning at the farm
Photographer: Adam McEwen
April 2024Tiffany’s farm
On my way to work
Caught
Photographer: Birgit Musheno
October 14, 2024Banningwood Preserve
A fallen maple leaf caught by dry fern leaves, illuminated by late afternoon fall sunlight. I was captivated by the recursive curling forms, and the detailed tracery of the leaf structures revealed by the sunlight filtering through.
Mountain Laurel Blossom
Photographer: Kent Girty
May, 2022Selden Creek
The mountain laurel was adopted as Connecticut's state flower on April 17, 1907. Here a beam of sunshine directly shown through the canopy to so beautifully illuminate this perfect blossom.
Lunch Spot
Photographer: Christine Tappe
9/28/2024Selden Creek Preserve
The white trail brought us to a beautiful overlook of the flood plain, creek and Selden Island. Not only did we have lunch with a view, but we heard nothing but birdsong and rustling leaves all around us. It's not often that you find a spot with no man-made noise encroaching on your outdoor experience.
Late Summer at Uncas Lake
Photographer: Rich Sanders (Photo of Distinction)
September 16, 2024Uncas Lake, Nehantic State Forest
With sunny days, cool nights, and leaves starting to change, there's still time for a late summer swim and a look-see above and below the water.
Iced Lodge
Photographer: Birgit Musheno
December 14, 2024Thach Preserve
A beaver lodge and some brush in thin ice. The ice and weather created a spectrum of typical winter colors from purplish blue through golds, tans and greys.
Winter Water
Photographer: Denise Gravatt
December 2024
Private Lyme Habitat
A frosty Christmas Day walk revealed ice crystals and typical beautiful Lyme rocks, water and woodland
Danaus Plexippus
Photographer: Kent Girty
August 2024Jewett Preserve
Always loved these fellas as a kid and discovering them in a meadow still brings a smile and that familiar feeling of high summer.
Newts
Photographer: Dave Brown
May 2024Jewett Preserve
Morning walk newt’s meandering on the trail.
Tree at Tiffany
Photographer: Birgit Musheno
January 16, 2024
Tiffany Farm, Sterling City Rd., Lyme CT
Tree in winter viewed from old farm structures, on land under conservation easement for agricultural use.
Erratic
Photographer: Christine Tappe
09/22/2024Johnston Preserve
I never tire of the geology to be found in our native woodlands. The cool tones of this glacial erratic set against a backdrop of early fall color was calling out for a photo stop as we hiked the Johnson Preserve (white trail) .
Dinner time for baby owls
Photographer: Jaime Bochet
May 11, 2024Private Old Lyme habitat
As evening approached, one of the parent owls brought a fresh meal for the fledglings. It was incredible to watch them feed the babies.
Spring fungus
Photographer: AK Li
May 2024Banningwood Preserve
White-pored Chicken of the woods
Lush Moss
Photographer: Bryn Souza
3/16/224
Selden Creek Preserve
This bright green moss was a lovely sight when so much else was still mostly brown
Fall Water Lily at Hartman Park
Photographer: Rich Sanders
September 28, 2024Hartman Park, Right of Way
I've always associated fall colors with trees and shrubs. Here, I lucked-out capturing a water lily in its autumn glory at a location so familiar to many. With the beaver lodge in focus I shot low as if I were in the water. For me, the raindrops on the lens and the clouds above drive home this change of seasons.
Ice Over the River
Photographer: Kent Girty
January 2024
Eight Mile River I think still in Pleasant Valley.
Fascinating and dramatic ice formation created as just the right conditions, cold snap freezing water vapor, conspired to form these wonderful shapes. Clear as crystal. Needed care not to slip in…
Spring at Hamburg Cove
Photographer: Adam McEwen
June 2024Hamburg Cove, Lyme
Kids paddle boarding at the cove. Foto taken from the bridge at Cove road.
Trail Gift
Photographer: Birgit Musheno
September 23, 2024Pleasant Valley Preserve
A flower token left along the trail one day by an unknown fellow hiker, an uplifting sign of communal joy in nature.
Sumac at Pleasant Valley
Photographer: Sarah Prineas
Dec 21, 2024Pleasant Valley in Lyme
Sumac berries in a snowy field
Wild Grapes
Photographer: Tori Harris
06/24Roaring Brook Preserve
Kade exploring the brook bed.
Rainbow Over Falls Brook
Photographer: Andrew Onderdonk
June 2024Back door…233 Hamburg Rd
Brilliant rainbow after light, late afternoon rain
Spring in Lyme at Sterling City Preserve
Photographer: Gina McEwen
End of May 2024Sterling City Preserve
Sunset in Lyme. Walking in our street we were lucky to enjoy this beautiful sunset.
Butterfly on Mexican sunflower
Photographer: Kristina White
August 2024Private habitat in Lyme
I noticed this butterfly dancing on the flower and realized what a beautiful backdrop!
Interstate 95 by Water.
Photographer: Doug White
September 14, 2024Lieutenant River
Kayaking on a beautiful day.
A double Stack
Photographer: Kristina White
December 2024Brovckway Hawthorne Preserve
the fungi look like shelves waiting for a squirrel to store its nuts for later